May 6, 2018
07:10 am JST

1 in 13 are LGBT? That is about 8%. I thought we were a much more exclusive group! Most psychology studies say that 1.6% of any given population is LGBT. That is a little more than 1 in 100. Why does the figure seem to be so high in Japan? What was the study methodology?

May 6, 2018
07:11 am JST

Why am I not surprised when there's money to be made that certain companies target a particular group such as 'the gays' with their pink yen, yet simply gloss over the rampant discrimination embedded in a range of Japanese institutions against the LGBTI+ community. These companies now need to pressure the Japanese government to enact marriage equality (for a start). This would then allow my Japanese partner (of 12 years) and I to get married in Australia (which has recently changed the law to allow same-sex marriage) and for that marriage to be recognised in Japan. Having said this, I admit there have been small advances such as the broadcasting of 「弟の夫」on NHK Premium, based on the Tagame Gengoro 'manga' of the same name. BUT whenever I visit Japan, I am suddenly reminded everywhere I go of the strong discourse of heteronormativity. I recently watched an episode of Downtown no Gaki no tsukai ya arahende (April 8th) in which the regulars and a few others were given ¥1000 to spend in a ¥100 shop to dress up as オネエ. Cheap right! In the climax, they all came together and bitched about who was the most beautiful, appropriating all the stereotypes of オネエ. Here we have a group of straight men doing gay-face. Am I surprised at that? Again, not really. It seems par for the course, but オネエ only represent one small part of the diversity within LGBTI+, yet it is the most visible, on TV at least. I've always wanted mainstream gay male Japanese celebrities to come out on TV and demand marriage equality. Hmmm, I can only dream, right?

May 6, 2018
09:50 am JST

I’ve seen a lot of progress in the advertising sector in terms of recognizing there is more variation in lifestyle and needs than previously shown. We now see TV ads with men caring for children, doing shopping, laundry, & cooking, and women going out to work, etc. We also now see, for instance, the Panasonic ads which acknowledge that the household appliances that were taken for granted when younger are not so easy to use for older consumers. All these efforts, as well as those highlighted in this article, while still far from adequate, are welcome.

May 6, 2018
10:15 am JST

Two friends of mine who are gay came over last week and I served them the same beer as everyone else...did I offend them? What is the gay beer brand? Should I have used gay glassware? Should I have provided gay game controllers?

May 6, 2018
10:20 am JST

How dare people identify in ways that other people don't agree with. How dare they do sexual things that other people don't agree with.

I don't think most people have any issue with others identifying in whatever way they wish. I certainly don't. It's the aggressive condemnation and ostracism of people who do not accept this self-identification which many find to be a worrying trend.

What is really striking for me is the lack of media objectivity on the issue. For example, the media are usually very careful to refer to ISIS as the 'so-called' Islamic State, but they do not extend this same detached objectivity to the transgender issue by referring to someone who is legally recognised as a woman (but identifies as a man) as a 'self-identified' man or some similar term. They instead refer to this person simply as a man, which is quite confusing when trying to understand the story. You have to admit that this is a journalistic double standard which seems to be driven largely by ideology, or fear of the outrage mob.

May 6, 2018
10:35 am JST

Damn them all to HELL!

Unfair to same-sex couples, they have no choice in sexuality. In Japan, people respect historically gay people in society, homesexuality was not frowned upon unlike West. Western Nations have big opposition to gay people due to Christianity. They can learn a lot from Japan in accepting gay couples, and should also embrace them in advertising as Japan does.

May 6, 2018
10:40 am JST

I don't think most people have any issue with others identifying in whatever way they wish. I certainly don't. It's the aggressive condemnation and ostracism of people who do not accept this self-identification which many find to be a worrying trend.

It's not condemnation and ostracism of those who don't accept it, it's of those who would seek to oppress it. People can feel however they want - you can be the most homophobic, racist, misogynistic person you want - if you keep it to yourself. When one starts to try to push those views on to the rest of society though, they become that which you are condemning in the above quote.

You have to admit that this is a journalistic double standard which seems to be driven largely by ideology, or fear of the outrage mob.

I don't. I see it as journalists moving into language that reflects the state of things, whilst some people try to hold on to outdated concepts because they are uncomfortable with the world changing in ways they don't like.

May 6, 2018
11:56 am JST

May 6, 2018
12:15 pm JST

According to the Dentsu survey, one in every 13 people in this country is a member of the LGBT community. I don’t believe it. The number is way too high. Don’t forget that Dentsuis an advertising company known for altering polll results to suit their clients’ needs.

May 6, 2018
01:11 pm JST

The number cited seems much larger than those in many other studies, which were probably conducted more rigorously - i.e. not for marketing purposes. And is taking advantage of these services going to entice those who for a variety of reasons in a conservative, discriminatory culture choose to keep their gender identity to themselves to "come out"? Looks like a solution in search of a problem on several levels.

May 6, 2018
01:43 pm JST

in consideration of sexual minorities, including transgender people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth.

That is correct - sexual minorities - that's exactly what they are why would a business cater for such a low percentage of the population when they can make the bulk of their revenue from the majority.

As for "sex assigned" at birth that's misleading the vast majority of humans are born male or female with a very tiny amount born with sex organs.

According to a survey conducted by ad giant Dentsu Inc in 2015, one in every 13 people is estimated to be a member of the country's LGBT community.

that's around 8 percent of the population when the average figure in most developed nations is around 2 percent something doesn't ring true about those figures.

May 6, 2018
02:14 pm JST

It's the aggressive condemnation and ostracism of people who do not accept this self-identification which many find to be a worrying trend.

Sorry, but people who are intolerant of gender identity are acting out of bigotry. And if you behave in a bigoted way, then you ought to expect to be aggressively called out for it. Remember - there is no such thing as tolerance of intolerance. Whether you agree or not, this is a thing that exists and you no more get to decide whether it is acceptable any more than you get to decide whether a particular skin color is acceptable.

May 6, 2018
02:25 pm JST

For all of those who are saying that "the number is too high", Dentsu made an online survey, and according to the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles in the UK, online surveys about sexual orientation and gender identity always show higher numbers than face to face or telephone surveys.

One of the main problems with trying to count the number of LGBT people in a country is that a lot of people are closeted, so online surveying is believed to be more accurate in these instances.

Not to mention that the way the questions are presented is also important. A lot of people do not identify as "gay" or "bisexual", but they still have relationships with persons of the same gender, so it's important to present questions that do not make use of those labels, and focuses more on specifics.

When surveys are done like that, and also online, the numbers are actually not that far off from other similar surveys.

May 6, 2018
02:38 pm JST

I actually envy gay people sometimes, because their relationships seem much more harmonious. Rather than the he-said-she-said back and forth and “you’re not attuned to my emotional needs” headaches, just two bros or GFs who also happen to be romantic partners. Just seems easier from a 3rd party view.

Give the LGBT equal rights by all means. It has nothing to do with low birth rate. These people would have never procreated anyways. Let them equally experience the drudgery of meeting in laws and your spouses’ friends who mentally rate you and who you have no interest in. Let them fight over what TV show to watch and bitch at each other for coming home late when dinner was prepared at 7, and explain why they couldn’t even send a quick text....

May 6, 2018
03:06 pm JST

Just watched some of the Pride parade in Omotesando, and it was all corporate advertising. All the major banks and foreign companies with slogans lending support to the LGBTQ community. But I feel that is all they are are slogans to make themselves feel and look good.

May 6, 2018
03:36 pm JST

1 in 13....so close to 10% of the population? I haven't googled it or anything, but that number seems high, and it is one of the factors included in the ever decreasing child-birth rate.

The only way LGBTQ individuals affect the birth rate is when they STOP entering into sham "straight" marriages and STOP having babies as part of those sham marriages, or when same-sex couples are allowed to have children (more kids!) through means other than adoption. Otherwise the declining birth rate is entirely the responsibility of the other 90%+ of the population (and government policy that fails to come up with any viable solutions). This tripe about an "increase" in gays causing a "decrease" in births has been repeated too often.

May 6, 2018
03:39 pm JST

May 6, 2018
03:54 pm JST

In Japan, people respect historically gay people in society, homesexuality was not frowned upon unlike West. Western Nations have big opposition to gay people due to Christianity. They can learn a lot from Japan in accepting gay couples, and should also embrace them in advertising as Japan does.

Listen to this one preach to us about the Western world. Have you ever stepped out of Japan in your life. The number of Christians have been dwindling since the age of the internet. Since then, LGBT have already become a normal integrated part of society in many Western countries.

Japan 'used' to have an open gay culture, until it adopted some of our negative ideologies in the modern Era. On the surface, Japan has tried to integrate LGBT through media, but in reality? Wasn't it recent in local news, where a teacher told his pupil not to tell his peers that he was gay in fear that he would be bullied?

One of my close friends came to Canada because he was teased, bullied and harassed by his classmates, colleagues and even friends for being gay. Canada has a far more open LGBT society and we even celebrate it. So, who should be teaching who again?

I'm all pro for supporting the LGBT community, but I dislike the approach of these companies.

May 6, 2018
05:20 pm JST

this is a thing that exists and you no more get to decide whether it is acceptable any more than you get to decide whether a particular skin color is acceptable.

Wishful thinking. Of course people can decide what they will and won't accept, that's how societies are defined. If you do find a society where everything is accepted, I don't think you would like it very much. You can make a case that they should accept this or that, but you cannot deny that acceptability will always be defined by society.

One of the main problems with trying to count the number of LGBT people in a country is that a lot of people are closeted, so online surveying is believed to be more accurate in these instances.

Not to mention that the way the questions are presented is also important. A lot of people do not identify as "gay" or "bisexual", but they still have relationships with persons of the same gender,

"Closeted" may simply mean they do not wish to be identified by their sexual or romantic preferences. Not that they are hiding, but that they don't wish to be tagged with such a narrowly descriptive term about a particular aspect of their life. I suspect a good number of the one-in-thirteen fall into this category. And that means they are already probably being sufficiently catered to.

May 6, 2018
06:43 pm JST

May 6, 2018
07:48 pm JST

I (Gaikoku-jin) was approached by a Japanese job consultant saying we welcome LGBT, made me crack up.Its a great beginning for Japan to embrace this reality.But hope this is from heart not due to sinking revenues. LGBT are often most loyal customers.

May 6, 2018
09:08 pm JST

take a deep breath, read my post again and please tell me where/how you can possibly construe what you have from what I said.

Sure. The content of your post was that the Liberal left is in the wrong for criticism of people in an attempt to silence them for speaking their mind. The tone of your post, combined with the declaration of fascism at the end and the capital letters interjected, were criticizing the left in an attempt to silence them from speaking their minds. Therefore any criticism you made towards them, must also be equally applied as criticism of you, since you are doing exactly that which you are condemning.

May 6, 2018
09:10 pm JST

@ LandOfTheLostToday

Listen to this one preach to us about the Western world. Have you ever stepped out of Japan in your life. The number of Christians have been dwindling since the age of the internet. Since then, LGBT have already become a normal integrated part of society in many Western countries.

Japan 'used' to have an open gay culture, until it adopted some of our negative ideologies in the modern Era.

May 6, 2018
11:15 pm JST

May 6, 2018
11:55 pm JST

Watch the kabuki play "Aakurahime Azumabunsho"『桜姫東文章』（さくらひめあずまぶんしょう） (Cherry Blossem Princes). A man becomes a munk after his love dies, but he discovered that she has come back as a young boy (he has the same tattoo that he and his love had tattoed on them), and they became lovers. Preferably watch a version with Tamasaburo.

May 7, 2018
12:15 am JST

Netgrump

So what are you actually saying in the last sentence? :)

I'd be happy to answer your question Netgrump,

When I refer to the modern era, I'm specifically referring to the period following after the Meiji restoration in 1867. As for 'negative ideologies', I'm talking about Christianity and its influence over Western thought. Japan had a very openly homosexual culture before the Meiji restoration, and it dissappeared due to it trying to fit in with other world powers.

May 7, 2018
12:29 am JST

May 7, 2018
06:14 am JST

LandoftheLost, youre being very free with your terminology. By 'openly homosexual' you are referring to the very popular practice among the samurai class and above of having sex with little boys. If it was 'western influence' that did away with this practice then I think we should all be grateful.

May 7, 2018
07:40 am JST

commanteerMay 6 05:20 pm JST

If you do find a society where everything is accepted, I don't think you would like it very much.

That is what is known as a "Slippery Slope" fallacy; if we allow people to do X, they will want to do X,Y & Z. It's rubbish. Accepting LGBTI relationships as normal has had NO effect whatsoever on any country on Earth that has done it - except to make conservatives froth at the mouth. I challenge you, comanteerMay6, to find just ONE country where the recognition of Same-Sex Marriage has had any negative impact on society at all.

"Closeted" may simply mean they do not wish to be identified by their sexual or romantic preferences. Not that they are hiding, but that they don't wish to be tagged with such a narrowly descriptive term about a particular aspect of their life. I suspect a good number of the one-in-thirteen fall into this category. And that means they are already probably being sufficiently catered to.

Wrong; it DOES mean that they are hiding. "Closeted" in the LGBTI world means exactly that - hiding in the closet for fear of being exposed - and it ONLY happens in countries where being identified as homosexual can have deeply negative consequences. There is a case before the Japanese courts right now where a man whose decades-long-term male partner died is having to fight his partner's sister just to be able to claim the property they shared. How many survivors of a heterosexual marriage would have to face something like that after the tragedy of losing their wife or husband? THAT is why LGBTI people in Japan hide themselves; they are discriminated against by the judiciary, the parliament, and society.

How many parents in Japan would readily and happily accept having a LGBTI child? Let me point out to you that no LGBTI parents have ever disowned any of their children for being straight. In this matter, Japan needs to wake up to the fact that we now live in the 21st Century - not the 19th.

May 7, 2018
07:49 am JST

According to the Dentsu survey, one in every 13 people in this country is a member of the LGBT community. I don’t believe it. The number is way too high.

Actually, Kinsey showed in 1956 that about 10% of the male population (of the US) engaged in homosexual activity throughout their adult lives, so these figures seem pretty accurate. As others have pointed out, the question is not so much how many people are LGBTI, but how many are willing to publicly identify themselves as LGBTI; a society'e attitude can make a huge difference to those figures.

Furthermore, what difference does it make how big or small a minority is? Does access to equal Human Rights only apply to minorities above a certain number? Surely ALL law-abiding, tax-paying citizens of a free democracy should have the same Civil and Human Rights as everyone else?

May 7, 2018
08:05 am JST

May 7, 2018
12:07 pm JST

Accepting LGBTI relationships as normal has had NO effect whatsoever on any country on Earth that has done it

Societal changes take decades to manifest, so you really have no point here yet.

Wrong; it DOES mean that they are hiding. "Closeted" in the LGBTI world means exactly that

You seem to misunderstand my usage of quotation marks. I put closeted in quotes because it was used above to describe those who were less than open about that aspect of their lives. Neither you nor I can know why they keep that information to themselves, though you seem to think you somehow know. Yes, LGBT activists use "closeted" in a negative way, as though people are hiding from oppression. That serves their narrow political interests. I am simply saying that likely many of those called closeted simply choose to keep their private life private, not because of fear of oppression, but because they don't wish to be identified primarily in that way.

May 7, 2018
11:36 pm JST

May 7, 2018
11:42 pm JST

As for the acceptance of LGBT peoples, I think that any form of discrimination should be preventable but forcing me to agree to it, is another matter. There's an interesting case going on in the UK about a Bakery that refused to write upon a Cake "Support LGBT Rights" under the grounds that the message was against their own Religious beliefs - they didn't disagree with the cake, nor the person, just the message. (Though in this case, the person ordering the cake was a LGBT Rights activist).

If we all Just let people get on with their own lives, didn't interfere with others or force them to think like you, then the World would probably be quite a different place.

May 8, 2018
07:59 am JST

Societal changes take decades to manifest, so you really have no point here yet.

Indeed they do - which is why I point to countries like The Netherlands and Belgium, where Same-Sex Marriage has been legal since 2001 and 2003 respectively. More than 10 years have passed and there have been no negative consequences at all. How long do you think we should have to wait? 20 years? 50 years?

Or is the truth really that there is no amount of time that would convince you, since your objection to Same-Sex Marriage is not rational, but emotional?

Neither you nor I can know why they keep that information to themselves, though you seem to think you somehow know.

I do know because I am Gay myself and old enough (61) to have been a young man when it was still illegal and considered a mental illness in my country. No one - NO ONE - hides such a fundamental part of their nature as who they love because "they don't wish to be identified primarily in that way". They do it out of fear of the repercussions of being open and honest.

May 8, 2018
08:08 am JST

There's an interesting case going on in the UK about a Bakery that refused to write upon a Cake "Support LGBT Rights" under the grounds that the message was against their own Religious beliefs - they didn't disagree with the cake, nor the person, just the message.

The point is, how far should professionals be allowed to go with refusing to provide a service to LGBTI people? A cake may seem trivial, but what about other services?

There is a case in the US where a doctor refused to treat the child of a Lesbian couple because it was "against her sincerely held religious beliefs". It's completely legal to do so where she lives. So what happens when a Christian or Islamic paramedic with "sincerely held religious beliefs" that LGBTI people are an "abomination to God" attends a car crash and finds out the driver is Gay? Or even thinks they might be. Should they be allowed to refuse them service? If not, why not?

And what about White Supremacists? They have "sincerely held beliefs" that white people should not associate with people of other races. Should they then be able to refuse service to non-whites? Where do you draw the line?

If you're going to allow one form of discrimination to be legal, then what reason can you give for disallowing any other form?

May 8, 2018
08:17 am JST

No one - NO ONE - hides such a fundamental part of their nature as who they love because "they don't wish to be identified primarily in that way". They do it out of fear of the repercussions of being open and honest.

May 8, 2018
07:03 pm JST

No one - NO ONE - hides such a fundamental part of their nature as who they love because "they don't wish to be identified primarily in that way". They do it out of fear of the repercussions of being open and honest.

I personally know people who do (me for one), so that's obviously wrong. It's not a dark secret, or any secret at all. I just don't like people making assumptions about me. In this case, assuming that I would be in favor of the rather extreme LGBT platform pushed by activists. Or maybe not, since LGBT numbers like this include everyone who has had a non-hetero sexual experience. Nothing was said about love.

May 8, 2018
11:59 pm JST

@Howaitosan

The Baker didn't refuse to make the cake, simply refused to put the message upon it. That is completely different from the extreme scenario's that you reported, and which (particularly in the case of the Medics) flies against their reason-etre.

Let's say a person dressed in a full burka came into that Bakery and asked for a Cake with the slogan, "Islamic State Forever! Chop up the infidel" upon it, with a big picture of Donald Trump on the top ? Now would you question the Baker for refusing to write & draw that upon the cake, even though he's willing to provide the cake minus the top bit ?

There needs to be a bit of common sense here.

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